If you enjoy browsing used bikes for sale, dreaming about finding the perfect barn find, or rescuing basket cases to save them from being scrapped, we have some bad news for you. Recently, Vermont closed a registration loophole that allowed individuals with difficult vintage vehicle title situations to register their purchases legally. This loophole was commonly referred to as “the Vermont loophole.”

Previously, individuals could register their vehicles in Vermont and then use that registration to obtain a title in their home state. Alternatively, they could choose to keep their vehicles registered in Vermont while operating them in their home state. This option was particularly attractive to those who owned barn finds or had other challenging title situations.

However, the leniency of Vermont’s titling practices also presented an opportunity for individuals with dishonest intentions. Some people took advantage of the relaxed rules to obtain titles for stolen vehicles or used fraudulent ownership documents. As a result, Vermont has implemented new measures to prevent this misuse.

Starting from July 1, 2023, out-of-state residents or individuals without an established relationship with Vermont will have additional steps to go through if they wish to obtain a vehicle title in the state. The new process requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in their home state to verify that the vehicle does not need to be registered there.

This change in Vermont’s registration policy leaves motorcycle enthusiasts wondering what alternative options are available. While there are no definitive answers yet, some ideas have been suggested by individuals like BJ at Brick House Builds in a video discussing the issue. Will more old bikes end up being scrapped because it’s no longer feasible to rescue them? Only time will tell.